Beverley Susan Lawrence

Beverley Susan Lawrence was a lovely wife, a proud mother, a wonderful sister, and a fiercely loyal friend. She was not supposed to leave us so soon, but her loved ones take comfort knowing she is in a happier place.

Beverley was raised in Flint, Michigan with her older brother Mark Mitshkun by their wonderful parents, Mary and Damor Mitshkun. In the spring 1976, Beverley decided she wanted to move to Los Angeles with a couple of her girlfriends. Within a couple years, she met her husband, Bill Lawrence. Bill and Beverley met on New Year’s Eve 1978 at a local bar, J. Sloan’s in West Hollywood, California. They got married on August 15, 1982, at The Castaway in Burbank. Four years later, Beverley’s father Damor passed away. Three months after he died, Bill and Beverley’s daughter Danica was born on July 2, 1986. Beverley always told her daughter that Grandpa Damor would have loved her and she wished he could have lived to watch her and her son Joshua grow up. Two years and nine months after Danica was born, Beverley and Bill’s son Joshua was born on April 30, 1989. Beverley and Bill lived every moment for their children. They shaped them into the successful people they are today.

Beverley worked in insurance for several years, building long-lasting relationships and then in the 1990s she entered the Burbank Unified School District. Beverley began her career with BUSD in April of 1997, starting out as a clerical substitute. She also worked as a counseling assistant at Muir Middle School and as a typist clerk at Horace Mann Children’s Center before finding her true calling, as an Administrative Secretary in the Student Services Department in 1998.

During her tenure in Student Services, Beverley was a highly valued department team member and was well-liked throughout the District. She worked closely alongside several directors and colleagues and was always willing to share her wealth of knowledge and assist families and site staff with all aspects of Student Services operations. Beverley’s knowledge of Student Services was matched only by her passion for helping others and her love for the job. Her sense of humor and wit made people at the district smile.

She made many life-long friends at the school district. Her friends remember her for her intelligence, her big heart, and her drive to excel at every task she was handed.

Beverley loved her children with all her heart. She would bend over backward to be there for them, support them, and help them succeed in life. When they were young she would always tell them if they reach for the stars and work hard, their dreams will come true. She was always encouraging them to go the distance in their education and their careers. Beverley and Bill would drop everything to support Danica and Joshua.

Beverley recently developed a love for hockey. She rooted for the Tampa Bay Lightning (after her daughter Danica and son-in-law Jeff McAdam brought her to a Lightning game). She was also a Shark’s fan after her son Joshua attended San Jose State University to receive his bachelor’s degree.

Beverley was a type 1 diabetic, but she did not like to share that with everyone. However, she was proud of her daughter who is also a type 1 diabetic and how Danica works hard to raise money to find a cure through the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF. Beverley and Bill donate every year to JDRF to find a cure. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and currently, there is no cure. Even after Beverley’s passing, she is donating thousands of more dollars (donated from her loved ones in her name to JDRF) to find a cure for her daughter and all the children and adults facing a lifetime of insulin dependence.

Beverley’s husband Bill said Beverley was close to retirement, as she was still working full-time at the Burbank Unified School District. The two of them had plans to travel, visiting their children and loved ones who live far away.

Beverley leaves behind, her husband Bill Lawrence, her daughter Danica McAdam, her son Joshua Lawrence, her son-in-law Jeff McAdam, her big brother Mark Mitshkun, her sister-in-law Diane Rosenblum, her cousin Mark Greenberg, her cousin Carol Gold-Lande, and her cousin Marjorie Thompson.

En lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Beverley’s passion to find a cure for type 1 diabetes, by giving to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Here is where you can donate in Beverley’s name to JDRF:

http://bit.ly/2nnvUJo